Goa's VDIS for local tax evaders

| 11 January 2000 17:52 IST

In an attempt to mop up revenue by plugging leakages, the Goa government has floated a scheme similar to VDIS for the payment of local sales tax, luxury tax and entertainment tax.

While fixing a deadline of 15 January, chief minister Francisco Sardinha has said his government would come down heavily on the evaders after this period. He expects to collect around Rs 10 to 15 crore which would help a big deal for the tourist state.

It also includes several hotels, especially from the star category, who have been evading payment of luxury tax as well as entertainment tax. Being a tourist state, the hotel lobby has become very powerful here in the last two decades.

The state has appealed to pay the taxes for the period ending 31 March 1999 by 15 January on the assurance that they would not attract levy of interest or penalty. They expect around Rs five to six crore from around 2500 dealers under this category.

In case of over 2000 defaulters, the state government has now allowed them to pay one third of the total amount of dues while waiving rest of the dues as well as post-assessment interest and penalty. It varies between Rs 1000 to Rs 10 lakh.

The scheme has also been extended to those dealers whose cases have been assessed till 31 March 1999 but who have gone into appeal, revision or review before the concerned appellate authorities. The payment is as low as one fourth of the disputed amount here while also waiving post-assessment interest and penalty.

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